Buhera

Location:
The district is located in Manicaland Province, in southeastern Zimbabwe. It is bordered by Chikomba District and Wedza District to the north, both in Mashonaland East Province. To the nortn-east lies Makoni District and Mutare District lies to the east. Chimanimani District and Chipinge District lie to the south-east. Gutu District in Masvingo Province lies to the south and west of Buhera District. The district’s main town, Buhera, is located approximately 170 kilometres, by road, south-west of Mutare, the location of the provincial headquarters.
Overview:
Buhera District is a rural district. The local economy depends mainly on farming. The main crops are: maize, millet (mhunga), roundnuts (nyimo) and groundnuts (nzungu). Cattle ranching is also practiced in the district. Although the rains are not very reliable, the area is fertile with several irrigation schemes for the populace to supplement their meager harvests. However the schemes are now in sorry state due to government neglect. The ranching and wildlife make life enjoyable and fruitful. The largest employer in the district is Dorowa Minerals, a phosphate mine, which employs about 300 people.

History:

The name Buhera is a Nguninised, then Anglicised version of the name uHera. uHera means territory of the Hera and is reference to the fact that the Hera ethnic group of the Shona lived in the area and in neighbouring Chikomba District. The vaHera of the Museyamwa totem occupy most of the Buhera territory (under Chief Nyashanu) and much of neighbouring Chikomba (under chief Mutekedza).

The Va Hera are of the Shona tribe and claim that they came from Guruuswa, which has been identified as an area north of the Zambezi River, perhaps around Uganda or South Sudan. Chiurwi Mountain was a major staging point for ZANLA liberation forces, during the Second Chimurenga War (1966 – 1979).

Population:

During the 1992 district census, the population of the district was estimated at 203,909. In 2004, the population of Buhera District was estimated at 218,570 people. The next national census in Zimbabwe is scheduled from 18 August 2012 through 28 August 2012. The majority of the district residents are subsistence farmers, through a communal land system administered by the local chiefs. There are two designated urban areas in the district, namely; Murambinda and Birchenough Bridge.

Education:

The district has a total of 140 primary schools and 55 secondary schools in 2004. Education is taken seriously in the district. Some of the notable schools in the area include: Nyashanu High School and Makumbe High School, both named after chiefs. Gunde Primary School, another rural school, is the alma mater of Brantina Chirinda, a holder of a PhD in Mathematical education program from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. These schools have produced many bright students who have passed through the country’s universities and now occupy high offices in industry and various academia.

Notable people:

The notable people associated with the district include the following:

Morgan Tsvangirai – The former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, MDC Leader has roots in Buhera District.

Daniel Muchuchuti – Technology Strategist, Founder & CEO of PointCom Consulting Group, Executive Director of NetSim Systems (2011- date)

Joseph Chinotimba – ZANU PF member of parliament

Gideon Gono –  Former governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is a native of Buhera District.

Paul Madzore – The member of parliament for Glen, on the MDC-T ticket, comes from Usavi Village, in this district

Kumbirai Kangai – A politician of the Zanu-PF political party is a native of this district as well.

George Charamba, President Mugabe’s spokesperson and Permanent Secretary of Media and Information is also from Buhera.

The late Governor of Manicaland province Kenneth Manyonda also hails from Buhera.

Musician Taruvinga Manjokota popularly known as “Sugar Sugar” and Yesteryear musician Jackson Chinembiri also known as “Sinyoro” are also from Buhera. 

The late political activist and University Professor John Makumbe hailed from Marenga in Buhera.

Darwiweni Darwin Manyame B.Ed; M. Ed; MSc;Family Therapist to the United Nations in Zimbabwe is also from Buhera.

Eric Taurai Matinenga